Airbnb News and Short-Term Rentals

Airbnb continues to be a major force in the travel industry, redefining how people book and experience accommodations worldwide. At PhocusWire, we bring you the latest Airbnb news, along with broader coverage of the short-term rental sector, including platform innovation, market trends, and regulatory developments that shape this fast-moving space.

Updates on Airbnb, short-term rental trends, and regulatory shifts

Track how Airbnb is evolving its product offerings, enhancing guest and host tools, and adapting to consumer demand for more flexible, immersive travel. Our stories examine the intersection of tech innovation, policy, and platform strategy—providing insight into how short-term rentals continue to influence the broader hospitality landscape.

An open letter to Brian Chesky: Airbnb anti-discrimination policy falls short
News / Online
An open letter to Brian Chesky: Airbnb anti-discrimination policy falls short
By Viewpoints | September 12, 2016
Airbnb recently unveiled a report to "fight discrimination and build inclusion", penned by Washington DC public affairs strategist Laura Murphy. I decided to write an open-letter to CEO of Airbnb, Read More
Why travellers choose Airbnb and how do they use it?
News / Online
Why travellers choose Airbnb and how do they use it?
By Kevin May | September 1, 2016
There have been plenty of industry surveys produced looking at the Airbnb phenomenon - but the academic analyses have been slower to emerge. One such study was published by Ryerson University in To Read More
Blockchain and a different view on the sharing economy
News / Technology
Blockchain and a different view on the sharing economy
By Linda Fox | August 26, 2016
Here's a video from TED on blockchain which is worth watching for its explanation of the concept as well as solid examples of where it could be put to good use. It's by business strategist Don Taps Read More
Tujia reports best-ever day, tips house-share for bumper 12 months
News / Distribution
Tujia reports best-ever day, tips house-share for bumper 12 months
By Martin Cowen | August 15, 2016
China's alternative accommodation provider Tujia.com has had its busiest ever day, netting 56,000 room night orders on August 5. It says that this is the "highest [number of] single-day transaction Read More
Corporate travel tech takeaways from GBTA, according to TripBAM
News / Technology
Corporate travel tech takeaways from GBTA, according to TripBAM
By Viewpoints | August 9, 2016
Last month's GBTA Convention in Denver was an informative mix of the familiar and the fresh, with established players rubbing shoulders with startups and disruptors. NB This is a viewpoint by Steve Read More
Millennials like hotels and travel agents, says Amex
News / Distribution
Millennials like hotels and travel agents, says Amex
By Juliana Shallcross | August 9, 2016
American Express Travel is the latest big name to try to get inside the mind of the Millennials, and its findings show that when it comes to hotels, this demographic isn't that different from their Ba Read More
Lufthansa flies to Airbnb to fill premium economy cabin
News / Distribution
Lufthansa flies to Airbnb to fill premium economy cabin
By Linda Fox | July 26, 2016
Lufthansa has taken the interesting move of offering seats in its premium economy cabin on Airbnb. A page on the peer-to-peer accommodation platform says 'Luxury Awaits Above the Clouds' with the l Read More
Ways to prevent sharing economy fraud
News / Distribution
Ways to prevent sharing economy fraud
By Viewpoints | July 18, 2016
Over the past decade we have seen a marked shift in how we as a global society wish to interact. No longer do you have to rent specialist holiday homes from a travel agent and these days you don’t eve Read More
Travellers using sharing economy services double, driven by awareness and confidence
News / Distribution
Travellers using sharing economy services double, driven by awareness and confidence
By Kevin May | July 12, 2016
Familiarity with brands and trust have triggered what is anticipated to be a doubling of travellers opting for services such as Airbnb, Uber, Lyft et al this year. The study by Allianz Global Assit Read More
Airbnb signs with American Express GBT, Carlson Wagonlit and BCD Travel, scoring a TMC trifecta
News / Distribution
Airbnb signs with American Express GBT, Carlson Wagonlit and BCD Travel, scoring a TMC trifecta
By Sean O'Neil | July 12, 2016
Three major travel management companies (TMCs) -- American Express Global Business Travel (GBT), BCD Travel, and Carlson Wagonlit Travel -- have signed a partnership with Airbnb, the short-term rental Read More
New York City hotels take revenue hit, as OTAs and Airbnb grow
News / Distribution
New York City hotels take revenue hit, as OTAs and Airbnb grow
By Sean O'Neil | July 7, 2016
At today’s Revenue Strategy Summit in Washington, DC, data was shared on how hotels in North America are being affected by the cost of third-party distribution and the rise of Airbnb and the non-tradi Read More
Airbnb gives thumbs-up to sharing economy Kite Mark
News / Online
Airbnb gives thumbs-up to sharing economy Kite Mark
By Kevin May | July 7, 2016
A programme in the UK to issue sharing economy-related companies with a so-called Kite Mark of high standards has won the approval of global giant Airbnb. The TrustSeal scheme is one of the first i Read More
Naspers pitches up with another deal in India
News / Distribution
Naspers pitches up with another deal in India
By Martin Cowen | July 5, 2016
Travel Boutique Online (TBO), an Indian B2B  player backed by South Africa's Naspers, has bought a stake in campsite aggregator Deyor Camps. Naspers was involved in a $250 million funding round for Read More
Google: time for the travel industry to see through its do-no-evil mantra
News / Distribution
Google: time for the travel industry to see through its do-no-evil mantra
By Viewpoints | June 29, 2016
I believe that Google poses the biggest long-term threat to the profitability and growth of airlines, hoteliers and travel intermediaries that they have ever seen. Here’s why. NB: This is an opi Read More
What happens when Airbnb muscles in on your business?
News / Distribution
What happens when Airbnb muscles in on your business?
By Viewpoints | June 23, 2016
Airbnb is moving into the tours and activities - some think in a very big way. The company has been talking about it a lot recently, not least at a conference I attended. Whilst many gushed and Read More
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